macrumors P6

I have a time machine backup would that work with migration assistance?

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Yes it will. There is rally no reason for you to mess with CCC. After you complete the clean install it will run Migration Assistant and you can just point that to your TM backup for import.

Just to clarify something I believe you may already realize. If you command-r boot to recovery and just click "Install OS", that will reinstall the OS and WILL NOT erase your data. But doing a "clean" install where the Macintosh HD is erased from the command-r boot to recovery DOES erase all data. A clean install by definition involves erasing all data.

macrumors 68020

It's worth pointing out that there's not much point in doing a "clean" install, if you're then going to use Migration Assistant to restore everything that used to be on your hard drive previously.

Most of the problems people have are not with the OS itself, which rarely needs reinstalling (unless some files have been altered or deleted), but from all the user settings and third-party apps that they add to it. Either that or corrupt caches and temp files which can be deleted.

It's a bit like changing your sheets because you've wet the bed -- and then peeing all over it, to get it just as you left it!

The problem with this method is that you need to have backup copies of all your Applications stored on your External. If you only use Mac App Store Apps, then you won't need to worry about that. However, if you use Office and other programs that you didn't purchase from the MAS, you will need have the backup discs and reinstall them.

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